Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has suffered another back injury and will miss Saturday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Sparks, coach Stephanie White announced at Friday’s practice.
The Fever have a seven-game break after Saturday, but White wouldn’t put any timetable on Clark’s return.
Clark left Thursday’s loss to the Phoenix Mercury after aggravating her back in the third quarter. She has been managing the issue throughout the season. She was also on the receiving end of a perceived cheap shot to the throat during the defeat.
The former Iowa star was lying on the court after diving for a loose ball when the Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas lunged for possession.
But, ascaught on replay, Thomas ended up closing her fist and hitting Clark directly in the throat. At the time, officials missed the call in the chaotic scramble for the ball.
However, since then, the WNBA announced that Thomas was retroactively assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and would be suspended for her next game.
‘Per WNBA rule, the League Office has the option, following its review of any game, to reclassify a Flagrant foul or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game and may impose a fine and/or suspension,’ read the league’s statement.
MORE TO FOLLOW…
Thomas dove to the ground for a loose ball and hit Clark in the neck with a closed fist
Clark’s coach, Stephanie White said it was ‘egregious’ and ‘disrespectful’ a foul wasn’t called
